The Spectator newsletter reports on the illegal seizure of Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers:

The question is whether or not Britain and the US will continue to seize these tankers, after Defence Secretary John Healey promised to ‘step up’ action on Russia’s shadow fleet. It’s possible that Russia could then use these seizures as a pretext to begin seizing British ships. From there, it is easy to see how a tit-for-tat escalation could begin to spiral out of control.

Well. The US and UK have used illegal sanctions as a 'pretext' for their piracy so why not everybody else?

The Houtis and Somalis must be rubbing their hands. 

Piracy is now the new normal.

Three cheers for the rules-based order!